Allergy laboratory

The Allergy Laboratory

Summary

Science

Laboratory

Scientist

Background

People with allergies have exaggerated immune responses to specific substances that would normally cause no threat to health. Allergies are becoming increasingly more common, somewhere between 15 and 20% of the population has some form so even if you don’t have an allergy yourself it is very likely that you someone who does. This relatively recent dramatic rise in the number of cases has meant that the role of the immunology laboratory in diagnosing and managing specific allergies has in turn becoming increasingly important. Equally, as the total number of cases is vast, the range of specific allergies is also large with common cases such as sensitivity to pollens and animals encountered, as well as more unusual incidences such as allergies to anesthetics and latex.

• Science